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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Hiking Maui

I love to hike and I love Hawaii. Hawaii is what you make of it. If you just want to lie in the sun and read, you can. If you want the bar scene, it's on every island. If you want to be active you can hike, swim, snorkel, climb, sky dive, cycle, etc.
Our family owned condos on Maui for 23 years, so I have been there more than 15 times; I lost count. I like to hike. Maui has great hikes. But it also has problems with hikes not being accessible due to private property. I know as many hikes within the city of Honolulu as in all of Maui
Family members are going to Maui next month. Not me; I am returning to work. I spent my five weeks off work doing trivial exercises in my own bedroom. I built a page on Maui hikes; take a look.
Maui Hikes
A sample:
La Perouse Bay
This is not known as a hike. Don't miss it in any case. It is unique and not very far [from Kihei].
The hike: The King's trail goes south the La Perouse parking area. It is over very rough lava. Boots are strongly recommended. (Parking - Try to imagine cars parked between 2 to 4-foot high lava outcroppings.)
"Haleakala’s last display can be seen on Mau‘i’s southeast shore at La Perouse Bay. Scientists estimate that in 1790 Haleakala erupted to form the jagged lava rock coastline. Now there is a monument and ruins of Hawaiian natives who made their home on the sharp a’a lava rock.
"La Perouse is the end of the road, literally, in south Mau‘i. It is located at mile marker 7 at the very end of Makena Alanui Road. From Kihei take Piilani Hwy south to Wailea. Turn right on Wailea Iki road and bear left on to Wailea Alanui Road which turns into Makena Alanui. Look carefully around you as you drive between mile markers 5.5 and 7. On either side you should see fields of a’a littering the landscape. There used to be a sign by the road: "Simulated Moon terrain."
When we took [my sister] to Maui our first attempt for La Perouse was cut short due to danger of flooding. The rain caused flooding in every low spot in the road; many seemed designed for run off. But we chose not to be victims. We went to Wailea's shopping mall and sat in the sun!